Biggest Shock: The hastag that flashed on screen at the end of this week’s SCANDAL said it all!

Best Reason To Live on The East Coast: The above-mentioned hashtag wound up spoiling the surprise for West Coasters who saw it on Twitter hours before the episode aired in their timezone.

Luckiest Contestant: Abi, one of the least-liked players in SURVIVOR memory, has managed to avoid being voted out two weeks in a row, first thanks to an immunity idol and then by winning immunity.

Easiest Target: By opting to direct a documentary about herself, Beyonce all but assured that the word “narcissistic” would be used by every person reporting on the HBO project.

Most Predictable Reversal: Shortly after video surfaced of TWO AND A HALF MEN star Angus T. Jones urging people not to watch the “filth” for which he earns $350,000 an episode, the young man praised everyone involved with the show on which, it bears repeating, he makes $350,000 an episode. Wonder if that change of heart had something to do with the number 350,000? [Read more...]

When I first reviewed this LA cop drama from ER vet John Wells, I thought that it would be better suited for cable. It made the leap to TNT (under rather unfortunate circumstances), but hasn’t made much of it — somewhere along the way, it has devolved from promising SHIELD-in-training to a meat and potatoes procedural. It has a superbly acted ensemble, but needs to get the notion that all storylines are created equal out of its head: there’s an emotionally rich depiction of spiralling morality begging for attention in Michael Cudlitz’s John Cooper. Grade: C+— Aleks Chan

Okay, we’re gonna say what everybody else has been thinking in the wake of SOUTHLAND’s shocking cancellation: Jay Leno is a showkiller.

Let’s face it, so far, nobody at NBC has offered up anything even close to a rational explanation for why they would renew the brilliant-but-controversial series, pony up the cash for numerous episodes and then pull the plug before a single season-two outing could air. But it doesn’t take a genius to connect the dots and realize that upon looking at the episodes — which star Michael Cudlitz told Mike Ausiello were deemed “too dark” by the network — NBC realized they were in a no-win situation.

SOUTHLAND — with its gritty storylines and bleeped dialogue — is a 10 p.m. show.

Welcome to our morning round-up of big/interesting TV news that you may have missed over the past 24 hours because unlike us, there’s a fairly good chance that have a life outside of the small screen.

Good News: NBC’s SOUTHLAND won’t get lost in the avalanche of Friday premieres which include the splashy re-launches of MEDIUM and DOLLHOUSE. Bad News: Instead, it will just get lost, with the Peacock network pushing the sophomore series premiere date back a month to Friday October 23. [Variety]

Good News: A GILMORE GIRL grad will be joining ABC’s HANK on a recurring basis. Bad News: Said grad is not Alexis Bledel, rather it’s SAMANTHA WHO? survivor Melissa McCarthy, who has signed on to play sister-in-law to Kelsey Grammer’s Hank. [EW]

Good News: Warner Bros Television swears that the two-week temporary shutdown of ABC’s much-buzzed about V, “was put in place so that the writers would have time to beef up future scripts and bring them in line with the quality of the pilot.” Bad News: But just in case, who wants to be in charge of reserving saveV.com? Anyone? [TheWrap]

Good News: Summer Glau is officially joining the DOLLHOUSE for a mult-episode arc that will have Glau playing a character named Bennett who shares a past with Eliza Dushku’s Echo. Bad News: RIP TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES. [Dollverse]

Having chosen to take advantage of a free invite to see X:Men Origins: Wolverine last night (which by the way, not nearly as terrible as I was led to believe) this TV Addict has decided to once again, ask you to be the critic by posting your spoiler-free thoughts on last night’s installment of PARKS AND RECREATION, THE OFFICE, 30 ROCK, SOUTHLAND, BONES, SUPERNATURAL, SMALLVILLE, UGLY BETTY, and GREY’S ANATOMY.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:UGLY BETTY(8PM ABC, CityTV in Canada)
If it’s sweeps, it must be time for wedding fever! Which explains why there are not one but two proposals tonight.

SMALLVILLE(8PM CW)
When Tess and Lois clash, expect the unexpected. The eight-season finale also features Oliver stepping in when Clark seems kinda reluctant to kill Doomsday.

PARKS & RECREATION(8:30PM NBC, 9PM CityTV in Canada)
Frankly, I don’t think you should be able to tout something as a “season” finale unless you’ve aired at least 13 episodes, but hey, that’s just me. Anyway, this disappointing series — which managed to pick up a renewal for no reason other than it’s pedigree — wraps up with Andy’s first gig since he broke his legs in the pit. (That probably means something to the four of you still watching.)

GREY’S ANATOMY(9PM ABC, CTV in Canada)
The two-hour, fifth-season finale might just as well be called “Will They Or Won’t They?” as Izzie decides whether to have surgery, Mark decides what to do with Lexie and Bailey finds out whether or not she’ll be accepted into a pediatrics fellowship.

Since everybody seems to be itching to discuss last night’s slew of must see TV, this TV Addict thought he’d once again ask you to do your best Ken Tucker impersonation by being the critic and posting your spoiler-free (since I have yet to watch anything outside of what might have been the least funny episode of THE OFFICE ever) thoughts on last night’s installments of PARKS AND RECREATION, THE OFFICE, 30 ROCK, SOUTHLAND, SUPERNATURAL, SMALLVILLE, UGLY BETTY, and GREY’S ANATOMY.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:UGLY BETTY(8PM ABC, City in Canada)
The Karate Kid turns to Hilda for help in his run for office, while a member of the Meade dynasty is kidnapped even as Mode’s fate hangs in the balance.

PARKS AND RECREATION(8:30PM NBC, 9PM City in Canada)
Leslie makes a lasting impression at a banquet honoring her mom. Not a good one, mind you…

GREY’ S ANATOMY(9PM ABC, CTV in Canada)
Remember when the Chief’s niece was hospitalized before her prom back in season 2? Tonight, it’s a group of college students who wind up at Seattle Grace following a car accident that occurs on the way to their graduation ceremony. On, and there’s much, much talk of Meredith and Derek’s upcoming wedding.

THE OFFICE(9PM NBC, Global in Canada)
You know, if there’s one person on this planet you’d expect not to know that disco is dead, it’s Michael Scott. Tonight, he proves that to be the case by bringing dance music to the office.

SUPERNATURAL(9PM CW)
The apocalypse is coming! The apocalypse is coming! Unfortunately, Sam’s kinda tied up, what with having to detox from demon blood and all.

About the TV Addict

Started in February of 2006 as an outlet for Daniel Malen (The TV Addict) to share his love of television with anyone who would listen, theTVaddict.com has quietly grown into one of the internet’s premiere destinations for television news, interviews and opinion. More about me.